Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) express regrets towards the statement made by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) that urged the government to take stern action, including the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against an individual who mocks the Islamic call to prayer on YouTube (Source: Malaysiakini, 14 March 2011). Describing the video footage as an immoral and irresponsible act, PPIM executive officer Mohd Mustaffa Hamzah said it offended and angered Muslims in the country.

GMI recognise that the call for prayer is sacred in Islam and any act to mock the call is irresponsible and deplorable especially in Malaysia’s multi-religious society the individual involved must be put to justice. However, the suggestion to use ISA does not resolve the problem. In fact, it may compound the problems as ISA relinquishes any need to produce evidence or to have trials. ISA or any other detention without trial acts for that matter is an easy way to avert or cover up the real issues. Furthermore, ISA is in direct violation of basic human rights and rule of law.

In this case, it would be in the interests of all that proper investigation be made and due process of law is followed.

GMI advice all parties to be prudent in suggesting the use of ISA as the implication is big. The wide array of powers under the ISA opens up opportunities to contaminate truth and justice.

GMI would like to remind the government that the ISA makes a mockery of the principle of presumption of innocent until proven guilty; it unjustly denies our civil liberties; it allows for detention without trial and thus denies natural justice. Worse still, it creates conditions for torture and other degrading forms of treatment while under detention.

GMI calls upon the government to stop arresting people under the ISA, abolish the draconian law, and release all ISA detainees or to charge them in court.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) and Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) are shocked with the exposé by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad on his claim that he had once tried to abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA) while he was in power but blocked by the police.

This ex poses many questions? If Dr Mahathir’s claim is true (that he is for the repeal of ISA but blocked by the police), why did he vehemently defend ISA all this while? Why the continuous and wide use of ISA throughout the years, during Operasi Lalang in 1987, Reformasi movement in 1999 to 2001 and war against terror after 911? What triggered Dr Mahathir to suggest the repeal of ISA? Is the police so powerful to block PM’s ruling?

Is Dr Mahathir trying to be a hero yet cynical and try to deny all human rights violations committed by him? The question is why now? If he really had the intention to abolish the ISA, he was never supposed to use the ISA and should reveal his stand to the whole world that he was stopped by the police. Why did he not?Ironically, former prime minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also called for the repeal of ISA when not in power anymore, just like Tun Dr Mahathir. Question is, will their call be taken seriously?

Suaram and GMI believe the principles of justice, fair trial and innocent until proven guilty must be upheld at all times without fear or favour. These principles should not be violated at the expense of national security or political interests. ISA violates basic principles of human rights, rights to fair trial and rights to be innocent until proven guilty. If these principles were held dearly by Tun Dr Mahathir, ISA would not exist anymore today.

We would like to remind Dr. Mahathir that if he still has the intention to abolish the ISA, we would like to invite him to voluntarily participate with SUARAM and the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) to jointly support the demands of the people to abolish the ISA. If Dr. Mahathir sees ISA is actually allowing human rights violations and abuses of power by those in power then he should immediately call for abolishment of the draconian ISA.

Reform Police Force and End to Detention without Trial!

If the claim by Mahathir is true on the police then Dr, Mahathir and the Malaysian government need to be answerable for giving absolute power to the police to use the ISA and to detained people without trial.

Until this moment, ISA detainees continue to be subjected to arbitrary detention, physical abuse, and ill treatment and without any effective judicial review on the merits of their detention. The political detainees have undergone days and nights of endless interrogation which have inflicted grave toll on the mental condition of many detainees; during interrogation, they have been handcuffed, had their abdominal parts kicked, their heads bashed against the wall until they bled, and some have had to be hospitalised.

The police force in Malaysia should be reformed immediately. Although there were recommendations from the Malaysian Royal Police Commission in 2005, to reduce and monitor the power of police but yet the recommendations remain as it is. The only reason the police abused their power is because the government failed to implement the check and balance monitoring system on the overall police force in Malaysia. Preventive laws such as ISA will always ‘allow’ the Special Branch (SB) to do more violations and they will not be questioned for their actions as they are protected by the government of Malaysia and the bad law. The Barisan National government is to be totally blamed for the abuse of police power and for creating a police state!

The Home Minister revealed that 2 men and one woman were arrested. One of them is from Indonesia. The detention of the three under the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) is yet another attempt by the government to legitimize the usage of detention without trial despite the public criticism and upon the Prime Minister’s public admission that the ISA is indeed problematic and need to be reviewed.

GMI and SUARAM strongly condemn the new arrest under the ISA. GMI and SUARAM would like to know why the government invoked ISA against them even though the country have specific law being the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007[1] law to curb the Human trafficking activities? GMI and SUARAM value that the security of the country is of utmost importance and do not condone any human trafficking activities, but one’s entitlement to a fair trial should not be deprived on any basis.

In the interim, the Government must immediately guarantee safety of the detainees and he/she should be allowed legal assistance immediately. Under the ISA, detainees can be held for up to 60 days in secret locations and in solitary confinement, often in a windowless cell where they lose all sense of time and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

We strongly criticize the Government for practicing double standards on issues related to ISA. On one hand, it plans to review the ISA but on the other hand, new detention is carried out discreetly as no prior announcements were made. This incident exhibits that the ISA, is an arbitrary law and has been abused in the pretext of national security for political reasons. We urge the government to charge the said detainees in an open court; otherwise, they should be released unconditionally without any delay.

We would like to request the family of the detainees to contact us and to fight for the rights of their family members.

Finally, GMI and SUARAM urge the people of Malaysia to demand for the release of all ISA detainees and for the abolition of this unjust law left behind by the colonial masters once and for all.

In conjunction with our 10th Anniversary Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) or Abolish ISA Movement is launching a logo design competition. The contest runs from 21st March to 11th April 2011.The winning design will be used on GMI merchandise such as badge, t-shirts, mufflers and car stickers that will be sold for fundraising and anti-ISA campaign for the next few years to come. GMI is seeking a design that captures our vision, mission and commitment to abolish ISA in Malaysia.

Rules & Regulations:

1. Eligibility:

Open to all residents in Malaysia above the age of 18.

2.Entry Guidelines:

Entries must be individual pieces.

Entries must stick to the vision and mission of GMI together with clear stand that there shouldn’t be detention without trial in Malaysia. The logo design should be something that someone would want to wear even if they don’t know the organization. In short, universally aesthetically pleasing.

Entries sent will not be returned. By entering the Contest, contestants agree to abide by these rules, and represent and warrant that the entries are their own and original creations.

Entries are void if they are in whole or in part illegible, incomplete or damaged. No responsibility is assumed for late, lost, damaged, incomplete, illegible, postage due or misdirected mail entries.

Design Size and format: you should create your design in Photoshop or Illustrator or other professional design program. If you use another means to make your design, you must be prepared to provide print-ready files of the design should you win. However your submission must be in PDF format.

Your submission should be a PDF file no larger than 5MB. If you win we will ask you for higher resolution files.

Your design should contain a maximum of these colours ie red,black and white.

Your design must include the words “10th year”, “ISA” to mark the struggle.

You must include “Selamatkan Malaysia, Mansuh ISA” the theme chosen for 2011. Use of English words is optional ie “Save Malaysia, Abolish ISA”.

You can send as many entries as you like.

We reserve the right to make adjustments to the winning design.

3.Judging:

All eligible entries received will be judged by a qualified board of local activists and designer chosen by GMI. Submissions will be judged on content, clarity and originality.

Judges will look for clear, concise design that is original, articulate, logically organized, and well-supported. Winning design must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of GMI’s detention without trial concept.

Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) are astonished to learn of the latest arrest under the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) in the midst of Government talks on amending the Act. GMI condemns the new arrest under the ISA. To invoke the ISA against this individual is absolutely against the fundamental principles of human rights, justice and international human rights standards.

Mohamad Fadzullah Bin Abbul Razak, 28, was arrested under the ISA on 15th July 2010 as he was returning to Malaysia from Thailand. He is alleged to be involved in international terrorist networking.

GMI strongly condemns the new arrest under the ISA. The Government must guarantee safety of the detainee and he should be allowed legal assistance immediately. Under the ISA, detainees can be held for up to 60 days in secret locations and in solitary confinement, often in a windowless cell where they lose all sense of time and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Detainees have been assaulted; forced to strip; deprived of sleep, food and water; told that their families would be harmed; and subjected to prolonged aggressive interrogation to force confessions or obtain information.

GMI believes that the new detention may have been initiated in response to international pressure on terrorist threats in Malaysia . However, nothing can be confirmed at this juncture. Using ISA to confirm this by means of possibly forcing confessions or creating unproven plots and links is unjust and unscrupulous. GMI values that the security of the country is of utmost importance and does not condone any terrorist activities, but one’s entitlement to a fair trial should not be deprived on any basis. If the Government has evidence against the suspect, we urge the government to charge him in an open court; otherwise, he should be released without any delay and unconditionally. Accusing someone of committing crime without producing credible evidence is slanderous; detaining someone without trial, and not giving him a chance to defend himself is barbaric!

It is a shame that the Government is again practicing double standards on issues related to ISA. On one hand, it plans to review the ISA but on the other hand, new detention is carried out discreetly as no prior announcements were made. This incident exhibits yet again the true colours of the ISA, which is extremely arbitrary and has been abused in the pretext of national security. It was previously confirmed that the ISA is only a political tool used to silence dissidents and criticisms against the government. We demand the government to release all detainees immediately or charge them in open court.

GMI and SUARAM urge the people of Malaysia to demand for the release of all ISA detainees and for the abolition of the ISA once and for all. Let us fight for our rights and for a better Malaysia without the ISA which allows detention without trial.